May I present, for the first time
Basic information
Project Title
May I present, for the first time
Full project title
May I present, for the first time in Lithuania Minor - the beginning of Lithuania in East Prussia
Category
Regaining a sense of belonging
Project Description
Lithuania Minor is a part of former Prussia, now - ethnographic region of western Lithuania. It shares history with Germany, Poland and Russia (Kaliningrad region).
Historical circumstances deprived the real inhabitants of Lithuania Minor, and our grandparents became settlers from Lithuania, who took over the legacy created by the Prussians and must protect it as their own.
"May I present, for the first time" - a box of memories, first times, which will remind locals how important they are.
Historical circumstances deprived the real inhabitants of Lithuania Minor, and our grandparents became settlers from Lithuania, who took over the legacy created by the Prussians and must protect it as their own.
"May I present, for the first time" - a box of memories, first times, which will remind locals how important they are.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Pagėgiai and other small villages around Pagėgiai region (Natkiškiai, Lumpėnai, Stoniškiai, Vilkiškiai), Lithuania
Urban or rural issues
Mainly rural
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Lithuania Minor is an ethnographic region of western Lithuania that once belonged to the East Prussians. The history of Lithuania Minor is extremely complicated - since the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the battles of the Order, this land has been a border area and an important link between Lithuania and Western Europe. The owners of this land are the Prussians, so this land shares history with Germany, Poland, and part of Russia (Kaliningrad region). Since part of the old inhabitants of this land were forced to move out, their houses were occupied by Lithuanians from Lithuania, so this land became a mixture of different people, in the long run the cultural heritage of Lithuania Minor became nobody's, but at the same time everyone's.
The project is being prepared on the occasion of the centenary of the independent Klaipėda (Lithuania Minor) region. The aim of the project is to reveal the importance of the region of Lithuania Minor to Lithuania, to encourage the local villagers to protect the physical and mental heritage of the place, and most importantly, to encourage the disappearing villagers to realize that they are part of the heritage of that region. The target group of the project is the inhabitants of the villages and small cities of Lithuania Minor.
The physical form of the project is a cube of a wooden frame, which, like a house, invites you to go inside, discover the first times that happened in Lithuania Minor, and at the same time share the first times that happened to each individual, thus sharing his story with neighbors, villagers and tourists.
To local residents, the most impressive objects and events seem regular, but they don't notice them, I hope that the box migrating through the villages will open up the confidence of local residents in their region and in the long run, will not only promote pride in their region but also attract new visitors and residents.
The project is being prepared on the occasion of the centenary of the independent Klaipėda (Lithuania Minor) region. The aim of the project is to reveal the importance of the region of Lithuania Minor to Lithuania, to encourage the local villagers to protect the physical and mental heritage of the place, and most importantly, to encourage the disappearing villagers to realize that they are part of the heritage of that region. The target group of the project is the inhabitants of the villages and small cities of Lithuania Minor.
The physical form of the project is a cube of a wooden frame, which, like a house, invites you to go inside, discover the first times that happened in Lithuania Minor, and at the same time share the first times that happened to each individual, thus sharing his story with neighbors, villagers and tourists.
To local residents, the most impressive objects and events seem regular, but they don't notice them, I hope that the box migrating through the villages will open up the confidence of local residents in their region and in the long run, will not only promote pride in their region but also attract new visitors and residents.
Key objectives for sustainability
The goal of this project „May I present, for the first time“ is to utilize local resources and promote the involvement of small businesses and artisans in the project. The box, which will be a temporary installation moving through rural areas and small towns in the region of Small Lithuania, is made from wood. Local materials are used, with the wood being sourced from local sawmills, and the production of the boxes will take place in collaboration with the community of Pagėgiai during creative workshops. So, the project is not just a finished object standing in the city center square; it is a process that starts from the creation of the idea with the Pagėgiai Culture Center team, the collection of local materials, and the involvement of artisans, as well as the education of various city communities about the installation and its significance, until the final result, which should serve for several years as it moves through villages and small towns. The box will be assembled and disassembled by members of different city communities during creative workshops.
The budget for this project is very small, and it aims to create the maximum possible impact with minimal investment. This project serves as an example of how small investments can produce significant results, emphasizing the importance of community and how mutual assistance can accomplish great things. Essentially, it's not just the box as an object with content that is important for this project, but the entire process - the movement of the box.
The budget for this project is very small, and it aims to create the maximum possible impact with minimal investment. This project serves as an example of how small investments can produce significant results, emphasizing the importance of community and how mutual assistance can accomplish great things. Essentially, it's not just the box as an object with content that is important for this project, but the entire process - the movement of the box.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
"May I present, for the first time" The box migrates through different villages with different rural or small-town situations. The primary aesthetic goal was to create an object that would fit in each village, not overshadow the existing context, but be an eye-catching and intriguing object. A wooden frame construction was chosen so that the box would appear translucent. The migration of this box through the Pagėgiai region's villages will begin on December 1, which means that this period in Lithuania is often gloomy and gray, while the box is fresh, white, and clean.
Inside the box, will be a white rope net, and white posters are hunged between the net threads, providing information about the first things that happened in Lithuania Minor, such as the first Song Festival, the first Lithuanian book, and more… Inside the box, in each village, more and more white posters will appear, which will be dedicated to capturing the happenings of the first times of the local residents. Visitors can write down their experiences that they wish to share with others.
Inside the box, will be a white rope net, and white posters are hunged between the net threads, providing information about the first things that happened in Lithuania Minor, such as the first Song Festival, the first Lithuanian book, and more… Inside the box, in each village, more and more white posters will appear, which will be dedicated to capturing the happenings of the first times of the local residents. Visitors can write down their experiences that they wish to share with others.
Key objectives for inclusion
This project is being organized in a small municipality, so the budget for this project is only 1000 euros. Given the very limited budget, the goal was to use as few funds as possible and create the installation with the assistance of the community. This project is not just about a standing installation; it is about the collaborative production of the installation. Rural residents are concerned that they won't have the funds to create something, so this installation aims to show that even small rural communities can beautify and educate their villages without a significant financial investment.
The construction of the box is very simple. Wood was acquired at a low cost from local sawmills, using wood that cannot be sold, and the box will be made by men from the Pagėgiai Culture Center community. Since the box is meant to symbolize cleanliness and happiness, it will be painted white, with assistance from the students of the Pagėgiai Art School, and the paint will be donated by a local resident in the region who is involved in charity work and helps the local residents.
The construction of the box is very simple. Wood was acquired at a low cost from local sawmills, using wood that cannot be sold, and the box will be made by men from the Pagėgiai Culture Center community. Since the box is meant to symbolize cleanliness and happiness, it will be painted white, with assistance from the students of the Pagėgiai Art School, and the paint will be donated by a local resident in the region who is involved in charity work and helps the local residents.
How Citizens benefit
The project is divided into two parts - before its public release and after. In the first part of the project, only a limited number of people are involved - the project author and the team from the Pagėgiai Cultural Center. Physically, these individuals generate ideas, conduct sociological surveys, analyze them, review literature, and create educational materials to be presented later. Before the project is made public, the box must be prepared, which means that even before revealing the project to the local residents, the community is inclusively involved in the production of the project, including the assembly of the box, painting it, creating posters, and printing, etc.
After the project is made public on December 1st, residents of cities and surrounding villages will be involved in this project in a broader sense. The "May I present, for the first time" box will be exhibited in central city squares, where residents will be able to inspect the installation and express their thoughts on the blank posters left on it.
Once the box leaves the community, a survey is planned to be conducted to determine how this installation has affected society and its perception of the previous installation.
After the project is made public on December 1st, residents of cities and surrounding villages will be involved in this project in a broader sense. The "May I present, for the first time" box will be exhibited in central city squares, where residents will be able to inspect the installation and express their thoughts on the blank posters left on it.
Once the box leaves the community, a survey is planned to be conducted to determine how this installation has affected society and its perception of the previous installation.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
Simplifying innovation. In principle, such an installation for the Pagėgiai town community is an innovation - there hasn't been a similar outdoor installation in Pagėgiai where the town's residents could "communicate." with it. The posters inside the box provide basic information about the first events that took place in Lithuania Minor. However, if the information isn't enough for the reader, they can scan the QR code. Although this may seem like a straightforward method, considering that the residents of the Pagėgiai region are rapidly aging, this will be a novelty introduced by community volunteers.
The "relationship" of the box with those inspecting it is mutual. It's not just about reading information on a poster; it's also about telling one's own story on a fresh, white poster left specifically for the residents.
The "relationship" of the box with those inspecting it is mutual. It's not just about reading information on a poster; it's also about telling one's own story on a fresh, white poster left specifically for the residents.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
In the development of this project, an architect and cultural sector employees were involved. Their collaboration was relatively smooth, with a direct generation of ideas. To create the physical appearance of the project, the thoughts of the Pagėgiai community members were required, and their expertise varied greatly, ranging from sound operators to craftsmen. Since the work on the box is still in progress, I cannot evaluate the mutual cooperation at this stage, but the result must be completed by December 1st when people somehow come together to create the necessary elements.
In the later stages of the project, the collaboration between Pagėgiai Art School students, the project author-architect, box manufacturers, and cultural workers will also be evaluated. In the final stage, it will be possible to assess the relationship of the community with all those who contributed to the preparation of this project.
In the later stages of the project, the collaboration between Pagėgiai Art School students, the project author-architect, box manufacturers, and cultural workers will also be evaluated. In the final stage, it will be possible to assess the relationship of the community with all those who contributed to the preparation of this project.
Methodology used
In-depth research into the possibilities of preserving the architectural/historical-cultural heritage of Lithuania Minor involved both theoretical and empirical studies. Theoretical research included collecting, analyzing, and systematizing information sources. Empirical research comprised sociological surveys and an analysis of the accessibility of cultural objects using the "QGIS" program. On-site research involved creative workshops interactions and conversations with local residents.
This installation can be seen as an experimental project, a test of how it would impact the local residents and their perception of the importance of local heritage.
This installation can be seen as an experimental project, a test of how it would impact the local residents and their perception of the importance of local heritage.
How stakeholders are engaged
This project was initiated by the Pagėgiai Cultural Center, with its director looking for a person who would come up with an idea and implement it in honor of the centenary of Lithuania's Minor independence. The initial idea was simply to educate people about the first happenings in Lithuania Minor. However, as the process developed, more and more people were brought into the project, as their creativity was needed to implement such an idea, given the project's limited budget. As more people were involved in the project, the idea emerged that they could educate them not only by providing "bare" information but by involving them in the process of gathering and presenting that information themselves, almost without realizing that they were doing it, as if it were a natural process, not work.
At the national level, the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture is contributing because it funds projects related to the centenary celebrations of Independent Small Lithuania (Klaipėda Region).
At the national level, the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture is contributing because it funds projects related to the centenary celebrations of Independent Small Lithuania (Klaipėda Region).
Global challenges
The project aims to address several important issues, including the decline of small villages and rural areas, decreasing populations, improving self-esteem, promoting cultural education, and the conservation of architectural, cultural, material, and immaterial heritage.
The revival of Lithuania Minor and the former Prussian culture is a relevant and significant topic that transcends the boundaries of a single region. It connects several states and unites people. While Prussia no longer exists as a state, its inhabitants – our ancestors – have passed down their traditions to us. Although these traditions are quickly being forgotten, as long as a significant architectural heritage remains in which many people in Lithuania Minor (and beyond, in Poland, Germany, and Russia) still live and work, we will remember this not just in textbooks but in our real lives.
The revival of Lithuania Minor and the former Prussian culture is a relevant and significant topic that transcends the boundaries of a single region. It connects several states and unites people. While Prussia no longer exists as a state, its inhabitants – our ancestors – have passed down their traditions to us. Although these traditions are quickly being forgotten, as long as a significant architectural heritage remains in which many people in Lithuania Minor (and beyond, in Poland, Germany, and Russia) still live and work, we will remember this not just in textbooks but in our real lives.
Learning transferred to other parties
One of the ideas of this project is that it will be mobile. Initially, the concept is to move this "May I present, for the first time" box through the rural areas of the Pagėgiai region, including Natkiškiai, Lumpėnai, Vilkiškiai, and Stoniškiai. The choice of easily assembled and disassembled constructions was made due to the mobility of the box.
Once the project is implemented and information is collected from local communities, there is the possibility of continuing to move this installation to other locations, such as larger towns and villages in Lithuania Minor, possibly with a larger quantity of boxes and different educational information.
Once the project is implemented and information is collected from local communities, there is the possibility of continuing to move this installation to other locations, such as larger towns and villages in Lithuania Minor, possibly with a larger quantity of boxes and different educational information.
Keywords
Community
Heritage
Education
Preservation
Architecture
